§ 36. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Transport the number of miles of the 3,000 miles of canals in Great Britain which have been bought up by the various railway companies; and the number of miles which are used by the railway companies for transportation of goods?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe total length of the canals in Great Britain owned or leased by railway companies at the 31st December, 1927, was 1,050 miles. During the year 1927 traffic was conveyed over all these canals except three, of a total length of 13½ miles, but the information in my possession does not indicate what proportion of the total mileage was actually used for the transportation of goods.
§ Commander OLIVER LOCKER-LAMPSONCan the railways be induced to give up those canals which they do not use?
§ Colonel ASHLEYWho is going to take them over?